The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) continues to thrive with blockbuster films and popular Disney+ shows. However, not every Marvel movie has hit the mark. One notable disappointment was Eternals, directed by Chloe Zhao, which struggled to win over critics and audiences alike. Despite its mixed reception, the film marked the MCU debut of Kit Harington, who has now shared a candid and amusing reason for joining the project.
Kit Harington opens us about his Marvel debut
In Eternals, Harington played Dane Whitman, a minor character in a large ensemble cast. Though his role was relatively small, a post-credits scene hinted at future potential for his character. However, Dane Whitman hasn’t made another appearance in the MCU yet. Whether Harington will return in future films remains uncertain. In a recent interview with GQ, Harington revealed his straightforward reason for joining the Marvel project: “I’m not gonna pretend I took that [role] because it was different and interesting. If Marvel calls, you gotta do it.”
Harington’s decision to join the MCU seems to be part of his broader strategy to explore new opportunities after the end of Game of Thrones. Building a relationship with Marvel Studios, which is now part of Disney, could be a smart move for future career prospects—even if his role as Black Knight involves wielding a sword in a manner reminiscent of his Game of Thrones character, Jon Snow.
As of now, Harington seems to be keeping a low profile regarding his involvement in big franchises. He even turned down the chance to reprise Jon Snow in a Game of Thrones spin-off. When approached by HBO about the project, he initially declined, though he found the concept of exploring Jon Snow’s life after the war intriguing. Harington ultimately decided that pursuing the spin-off might lead to a subpar outcome, which he wanted to avoid.
Harington also acknowledged the emotional weight of revisiting Jon Snow, which may explain his cautious approach to future projects. His hesitance about diving back into the MCU could stem from a similar desire to choose his next roles carefully.
While Eternals didn’t have the impact Marvel might have hoped for, there’s still potential for Harington to appear in future MCU projects. One possibility is the new Blade movie, where his character’s connection to Mahershala Ali’s vampire hero was hinted at in Eternals‘ post-credits scene. Although Eternals 2 isn’t in development and Blade has been delayed, there’s still a chance Harington might return to the MCU. For now, he seems content with his decision to join the Marvel universe, despite the film’s mixed reception.
